Free Offside by Kelly Jamieson Page A

parents’
friends she already knew, then her mother introduced her to some
big entertainment lawyer named Hugo Cathmor and his wife
Adelle.
    “Your daughter certainly has good
genes,” Hugo said with a smile. “She’s just as beautiful as you,
Sela.”
    Mom laughed. “Oh, thank you. People
often think we’re sisters.”
    She loved it when people thought they
were sisters, and if it didn’t get mentioned, she’d bring it up. It
made Honey grit her teeth.
    “Are you a model, like your mom was,
Honey?” Adelle asked.
    Her jaw ached as she smiled. “No, I’m
not. I work for the Condor Community Foundation as a Programming
Coordinator.” It felt good to say it, even though her insides
clutched knowing that it wasn’t a real job.
    Adelle and Hugo nodded.
    “Honey wasn’t cut out for modeling,”
Mom added. “And of course it’s really a tough field to get into.
Not many aspiring models make it.” In her mind, Honey tacked on,
Like I did. Because that was what Mom was saying. Although the
truth was, her mom had never been a top model. She’d done some
catalogue work and a few advertising jobs. She’d continued to work
a little after she’d snagged a rich hockey player husband, but the
rich husband had been more of a goal than a successful modeling
career that actually involved hard work.
    And, not that Honey wanted to talk
about herself, but the mention of her new job had passed by without
her mother even asking how her first week had gone. Ah well. She
was used to it now.
    “Want a drink, Honey?” Her brother
Jonathan spoke up.
    “I’ll have a glass of white wine.
Thanks.” She smiled at him.
    The oldest of the three Holbrook
siblings, Jonathan had somehow managed to be the perfect son. James
had as well, in their parents’ eyes, although Honey well knew he
was far from perfect. Their parents had focused all their attention
on their two boys and what they wanted for them. Luckily, Jonathan
and James had both been athletic, and although James had
disappointed his parents by not pursuing hockey, he’d made them
happy by becoming a pro golfer and doing well on the PGA tour,
having just pocketed over a million bucks at Torrey Pines. Jonathan
had played hockey in the NHL for twelve years before a
career-ending injury, and now worked for the Condors as Coordinator
of Player Development.
    Jonathan handed her a glass of wine
and she took a sip. Cold and crisp. She’d limit herself to one. The
temptation to slide into old patterns, especially around her
family, was always there.
    Her mom as usual led the conversation
where she wanted it to go, which meant it was about her, and she
chatted about some big Beverly Hills party they’d been at last
night and who had been there.
    Then Honey’s father arrived home,
bringing a couple more people with him, the team’s General Manager
Rudy Thomas, and John Derwin, Director of Hockey Operations. Dad
gave Honey a hug but the conversation turned to the game and the
fact that the Condors had won. Matt had probably been at the game,
no doubt happy that the team had won. It must be hard for him to
watch and not play. Then she tried to push thoughts of Matt out of
her head and took a seat on one of the padded lounge chairs,
listening to the others talk, smiling and laughing as appropriate,
trying as usual to be as inconspicuous as possible.
    Her dad hadn’t asked about her new job
either, but that was probably because he knew it wasn’t a real job.
God, that was so embarrassing. Except she was going to make it a
real job, dammit. She shot him a look, wondering if she should try
to get him alone and give him hell for doing that, or if she should
just keep her mouth shut.
    As a child she’d wanted her parents’
attention and approval. She’d learned that when she did what they
wanted, she got that. When she didn’t do what they wanted, that
love was withdrawn. As she got older she started to resent the
things they wanted her to do. Her brothers made them happy